Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice

Summary

Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice is the seminal text on green chemistry. The topic is introduced in terms of attitudes toward pollution from both the general public and scientific community. The concept of lowering risk by reducing hazard rather than exposure is discussed and the twelve principles of green chemistry are described in detail with examples of the importance of each and how they relate to current and future technologies. Simple methods for evaluating "greenness" of relevant topics are discussed, including relative toxicity, feedstock choice, reaction types and safer design. Successful applications of the introduced concepts are illustrated by examples of "green" processes, including novel starting materials, reactions, reagents, solvents and products. The text is 135 pages, containing ten chapters, exercise questions, a bibliography and index.

Summary prepared July 2005 by Dr. S. Adam O'Neil, Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts.